Emergency Communication in WOOP WOOP - SPOT/INREACH/Sat Phone

[Exile Bean]

Hi Guys,

I’m currently looking into different emergency communication options for when we travel around Australia. We are planning to travel for a few years and into very remote locations. We are of course getting an ELB with GPS, which will hopefully never be needed. However I also want a device to enable us to get help when it isn’t in an emergency situation, which again hopefully will never be needed. We do have 4G network coverage but that even fails in the Watagans at times so not trusting that to get us out of trouble. Ideally I also want to be able to receive messages, in case there is a family emergency and I need to get home etc.  In an ideal world I’d go down the SAT phone route, however I’m unsure the budget could cope, even if we get approved for the subsidy. Though I must admit I haven’t looked too deeply into it. Another option I’ve just seen is the SPOT and SPOT connect, which seems to be a lot cheaper and can send a tailored ‘need for assistance’ message, however it doesn’t receive messages. I also looked at the INREACH, however costs seemed high considering what you get for it. 

Does anyone have any thoughts on the SPOT/INREACH or any suggestions for other options or Sat phone plans that don’t cost through the roof???

As always any thoughts at all (even if slightly off the original line of thought) greatly appreciated.   

[ATC]

Inreach can send/receive messages, spot can only send.

I have a spot, it's great, but if you want to get messages back then you might want to consider the Inreach.

When I had to replace my Spot earlier this year after a mate lost it (ironic isn't it) the Inreach plans were going to cost to much, some months it doesn't get used, where I could buy 12 months of coverage on the spot.

If you are doing a Lap of Australia then perhaps the Inreach might be a better option, if its important to be able to receive messages then it's a Sat Phone, or Inreach

Looking forward to reading what Oth options are out the.

ATC

[CRW]

Hi Guys,

I’m currently looking into different emergency communication options for when we travel around Australia. We are planning to travel for a few years and into very remote locations. We are of course getting an ELB with GPS, which will hopefully never be needed. However I also want a device to enable us to get help when it isn’t in an emergency situation, which again hopefully will never be needed. We do have 4G network coverage but that even fails in the Watagans at times so not trusting that to get us out of trouble. Ideally I also want to be able to receive messages, in case there is a family emergency and I need to get home etc.  In an ideal world I’d go down the SAT phone route, however I’m unsure the budget could cope, even if we get approved for the subsidy. Though I must admit I haven’t looked too deeply into it. Another option I’ve just seen is the SPOT and SPOT connect, which seems to be a lot cheaper and can send a tailored ‘need for assistance’ message, however it doesn’t receive messages. I also looked at the INREACH, however costs seemed high considering what you get for it. 

Does anyone have any thoughts on the SPOT/INREACH or any suggestions for other options or Sat phone plans that don’t cost through the roof???

As always any thoughts at all (even if slightly off the original line of thought) greatly appreciated.   

If you do a search you will find plenty of info on this topic


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Patr80l]

Another option is HF.   You can get set up with a second hand Codan for $600 to $1000.   Membership  of the 4WD Radio Network costs $125 pa and for a bit extra you can make phone calls.   As a member they can help, even if it's not an emergency.

[areyonga]

As said there are a number of entries in the archives which a search will find, I bought an IsatPhone Pro a couple of years ago and it travels everywhere with me, cost about $600 and I fut a few prepaid credits on it when I travel, I found it much easier than trying to fit something else to the car. 

The satphone also does 000 calls, SMS and emails.  Also if the family want to contact me they can sens a free message to my satphone from the IsatPhone website. I prefer full 2 way communications in case of an emergency. 

Since they realigned the Inmarsatallite a few years ago the signal is strong as and broadband is available,,,,at a cost.

Cheers

Trevor

[doc evil]

I do a substantial amount of remote travel.  I have spot, and hf.
Spot to get me outta deep poo, the hf to talk to someone to assist me with break downs etc. They can also relay messages from family and the normal 4g to talk when I have reception.

Since vks have linked with the rfds, help is only a radio/hf-tel call away.
The hf network can supply you with all sorts of useful info like weather and road reports, track your progress etc.